In our fast-paced world, effective time management is essential to achieving success. I have plenty of articles on this topic, but these are my top strategies to help you become a productivity pro.
Track Your Time
In the personal finance realm, advisors often ask people to track where they spend their money. It helps them understand where they should cut back and where they can afford to splurge. The same is true with time. Tracking your time allows you to identify what you spend the most time doing. Then, you can decide where and when to change your focus and priorities. Check out my article on productivity journaling and time tracking for details on how to start this process.
Set Goals
New Year’s Day – and those New Year’s Resolution goals have come and gone. But every day can be the first day of a new year, so take a few minutes and think about your goals. Defining broad goals provides a sense of direction and guides your actions. Ideally, re-examine the SMART acronym for goal setting or, as an alternative to resolutions, consider making one small change every week to build better habits to help you achieve your goals.
Break Down Goals and Prioritize Tasks
Once you establish your goals, break them down into manageable step-by-step tasks and prioritize them. If you want to be a productivity pro, apply the wisdom of Yoda, the Jedi Master of Time Management. Categorize your tasks based on urgency and importance and use the five Ds to help you decide whether to delete or delegate items on your to-do list.
Create a System for Task Management
While it is important to set goals and prioritize tasks, developing a system to capture and rank those tasks is equally important. Many platforms can help you do this, from complex multi-user project management software systems to a simple but effective paper-based checklist. Regardless of your chosen platform, B-CLEAR on how to make your to-do list work for you and learn how to go from to-do to to-done. Additionally, many productivity pros create a “to-don’t” list to remind themselves what they shouldn’t spend their time on.
Organize Your Office Space
An organized workspace is crucial for any productivity pro. Explore tips on office organizing, and watch my desk tidying videos for inspiration. Additionally, invest in some desk organizing tools and sort through the paperwork. Keep only the necessary folders within arm’s reach and store the rest away from your main office area.
Organize Your Schedule
I have several suggestions on how to organize your daily schedule. Firstly, research shows that productivity pros arrange their day like high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in the fitness world. They work in cycles of uninterrupted work followed by a short break. Additionally, they batch tasks within the focused work times using “time blocking.” Grouping similar tasks within a time block will allow you to focus on one thing instead of wasting time switching between various tasks.
Health and Wellness Equals Success
Finally, to become a productivity pro in the office, you should have a holistic approach. Get quality sleep and establish a morning routine for a productive start. Likewise, organize and arrange your kitchen to support healthy eating habits. Additionally, taking vacations (even short ones) to recharge and disconnect will help you return to the office feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.
Remember, the journey to becoming a productivity pro starts with small, intentional steps. By implementing these strategies, you can build effective systems for success. For more information, feel free to book a time management or workplace productivity presentation.
